There was variability across the jurisdictions in relation to which principal offences were the most prevalent, as well as variability in the offender rates for those principal offences. The predominant principal offences that offenders were proceeded against in 2008-09, as measured by the offender rates per 100,000 persons aged 10 years and over, were acts intended to cause injury in Western Australia (515), New South Wales (463) and the Australian Capital Territory (281); public order offences in the Northern Territory (1,754), Tasmania (802) and Queensland (510); illicit drugs in South Australia, although these are likely to be overstated (790); and theft in Victoria (294).

Offender rate(a), Selected principal offence by states and territories